Dennis R. Newkirk, 1964-2012

Motorola Solutions engineer and aerospace enthusiast designed law-enforcement security systems, held more than 10 patents

April 24, 2012|By Joan Giangrasse Kates, Special to the Tribune

Dennis R. Newkirk (HANDOUT)

Dennis R. Newkirk, an avid researcher and author on Russian aerospace history, designed security systems for two-way radio communications used by the Secret Service, FBI, CIA and the New York and Los Angeles police departments, as well as many other major police departments nationwide.

Mr. Newkirk, 47, of Lake Barrington, a system-design architect with Schaumburg-based Motorola Solutions since 1991 and holder of more than 10 patents, died Thursday, April 12, at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington after a battle with mesothelioma.

"I don't think there was a single three- or four-letter law enforcement agency out there that Dennis didn't work with at one point or another," said colleague Ed Picha, a principal staff systems engineer with Motorola Solutions. "He was an expert in his field and very respected by the people in it."

A Purdue University graduate with a degree in electrical engineering, the Indiana native spent three years working for aWashington, D.C., security communications firm before being hired away by Motorola Solutions in 1991.

Mr. Newkirk quickly distinguished himself there with his innovations and technical expertise, designing security adaptations for the Secret Service's communications system from a control van to its agents on the ground, during both of President Bill Clinton's inaugurations in the 1990s.

"What he did was develop data applications that made it possible for agents to check out things like license plate numbers while talking on their two-way radios." Picha said.

Mr. Newkirk became a go-to guy after that, and police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country used his expertise in designing their systems.

"He was brilliant in figuring out solutions to very technical problems," Picha said. "But he was very approachable and one of the easiest guys to work with."

Born and raised in Princeton, Ind., Mr. Newkirk became interested in space exploration after spending time in an observatory adjacent to his high school that allowed students to work there as part of their science studies.

"He spent countless hours taking down data and doing research on stars and planets," his wife said.

Mr. Newkirk was fascinated by the historic U.S.-Soviet space race. But he was also struck by the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in articles and books written on the formerSoviet Union'sspace program and made it his mission to get the facts straight.

"The more he read, the more he wanted to collect as much information as possible and document what really happened," his wife said.

Mr. Newkirk began researching his first book, "Almanac of Soviet Manned Space Flight," while at Purdue and published it in 1990, two years after he graduated. He followed that up with "1996 Russian Space Review," "Soviet Space Planes" and "The Repair of Salyut 7." He also wrote articles for several space and science magazines.

In 1996, Mr. Newkirk traveled to Moscow to visit historical Russian aerospace sites and further his research. He was also on hand at several ofNASA'sspace shuttle launches during the 1990s.

"He once paid $2,000 for an airline ticket to Florida to go see a launch," his wife said with a soft laugh.

Other survivors include his son, Ryan; his mother, Ruth; and a brother, David.